Clay Aiken, gay bullying policy, N.H. marriage

By Project Q Atlanta | Feb 15, 2012 | 1:10 PM

Watch “Idol” alum speak against homestate’s gay marriage ban ballot, Minneapolis-area school board finally kills anti-gay policy, New Hampshire weighs gay marriage repeal, Fran Drescher to officiate gay weddings in New York, and more LGBT headlines.

• Gay couples file for marriage licenses in Virginia. Cameron Hunt and Keyan Herron (top photo) were married in a mock ceremony after they and four other gay and lesbian couples made a political statement by applying to marry and being rejected. Legal experts say the rejection could become the basis for a lawsuit.

• Minneapolis school district ends anti-gay policy. It only took national attention, a federal lawsuit, a petition, harassing U.S. Rep Michele Bachmann and nine student suicides in less than a year, but the Anoka-Hennepin School Board overturned its Sexual Orientation Curriculum policy in a 5-1 vote. At last.

• NHL Hockey player suspended for anti-gay tweet. Justin Fontaine, the Houston Aeros’ second leading scorer and a Minnesota Wild prospect (second photo), has to sit out two games for including an anti-gay slur in a Grammys comment: “I disagree, the Foo Faggots were awful. #TerribleShow #BadTaste #6205 agree foo foo!”

• New Hampshire lawmakers consider rolling back gay marriage. Republican majority legislators are backing a repeal of the law that allowed same-sex marriages to begin less than three years ago. The governor has vowed to veto the repeal.

• Fran Drescher officiate three gay marriages in New York City. “The Nanny” actress who divorced her gay husband (third photo) will marry the couples on March 6 to support her “‘Love Is Love’ Gay Marriage Contest” and to kick off the second season of her semi-autobiographical “Happily Divorced,” which premieres the next night.

• Gay priests executed suicide pact in Columbia. After one of the Catholic clergy was diagnosed with AIDS, two Bogota-based priests hired hitmen to kill them last year. Police suspected robbery at the time, but this week prosecutors laid out the plan as two of four suspected gunmen were arraigned.

• Colorado legislature considers civil unions bill. The first committee hearing takes place Wednesday for the proposal to grant many of the same rights as marriage. The governor backs the bill. A similar measure passed the state Senate last year but was defeated in the House.

• Clay Aiken blasts proposed North Carolina gay marriage ban. The N.C. native (bottom photo) says the ballot measure that voters will decide on May 8, which would constitutionally define marriage as between one man and woman, would hurt children of gay parents like himself. Watch:

Hunt-Herron photo by Richmond Times-Dispatch; Fontaine photo via Yahoo Sports; Drescher photo from ABC; Aiken photo via YouTube